US assures protection to South Korea on premise of NATO against the

Washington/Seoul/Tokyo: The United States has assured protection to South Korea based on NATO against the increasing nuclear tests and aggression of North Korea. On his visit to South Korea, the US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin announced deploying its nuclear weapons and defence systems in South Korea if necessary and enhanced military cooperation and drills in the region. On his visit to Japan, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called for an alliance of Asia Pacific countries against the threat of China and North Korea.

While the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, China and North Korea have been extremely aggressive, indicating the next battle in the Asia-Pacific region. While China is threatening Taiwan, North Korea has been aggressively testing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles leading to escalated regional tensions. Japan and South Korea have frequently been raising security concerns at the international level. Last month, Japan’s Prime Minister and defence and foreign ministers visited the US for this concern. Subsequently, the US has assured to provide protection. Later the US Defense Secretary and a high-level delegation visited South Korea and met with the President and the Defence minister of South Korea. Both countries informed that the meeting was to discuss countermeasures against the threat from China and North Korea. Subsequently, US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin announced deploying its nuclear weapons and defence systems in South Korea if necessary and enhanced military cooperation and drills in the region.

While the US Secretary of Defence is in South Korea, the NATO chief has arrived in Japan and met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the defence minister and other senior officials. NATO Chief Stoltenberg claims that the growing cooperation between Russia and China means that NATO and the security of Asia Pacific are interconnected. Before visiting Japan, the NATO chief also visited South Korea.

China has reacted to the visit of the NATO chief and his statement. The Foreign minister of China, Mao Ning, has advised NATO to drop the cold war mindset and focus on the security and stability of Europe and the rest of the world.

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